# US 12,111,018 B2 · Method and device for assisting filling with hydrogen

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- Number: US 12,111,018 B2
- Document ID: US12111018B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/910,519
- Filed: 2021-02-15
- Published: 2023-05-04
- Granted: 2024-10-08
- Earliest claimed: 2020-03-11
- Assignees: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
- Applicants: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
- Inventors: Marcel Ewers; Andreas Pelger
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12111018B2

## CPC

- F17C 5/06: for filling with compressed gases
- F17C 2201/056: Small (<1 m3)
- F17C 2201/058: portable (<30 l)
- F17C 2221/012: Hydrogen
- F17C 2223/0123: gaseous, e.g. CNG, GNC
- F17C 2223/036: Very high pressure (>80 bar)
- F17C 2225/0123: gaseous, e.g. CNG, GNC
- F17C 2225/036: Very high pressure, i.e. above 80 bars
- F17C 2250/032: using computers
- F17C 2250/034: using wireless transmissions
- F17C 2250/043: Pressure
- F17C 2250/0439: Temperature
- F17C 2260/024: Improving metering
- F17C 2265/065: for refuelling vehicle fuel tanks
- F17C 2270/0171: Trucks
- F17C 2270/0176: Buses
- F17C 2270/0178: Cars
- F17C 2270/0184: Fuel cells
- Y02E 60/32: Hydrogen storage
- F17C: VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES (storing fluids in natural or artificial cavities or chambers in the earth B65G5/00; construction or assembling of bulk storage containers employing civil-engineering techniques E04H7/00; variable-capacity gas-holders F17B; liquefaction or refrigeration machines, plants, or systems F25)
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

## Abstract

A refuelling assistance device that determines one of the following scenarios: (a) that consecutive refuelling operations of a first vehicle at corresponding different fuel stations have taken place without a communication link, and (b) that consecutive refuelling operations at a first fuel station for corresponding different vehicles have taken place without the communication link. In response to determining scenario (a), the control unit causes a communication module of the first vehicle to be checked for establishment of the communication link. In response to determining scenario (b), the control unit causes a communication module of the first fuel station to be checked for establishment of the communication link.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A refuelling assistance device operable within a system comprising: a plurality of vehicles, including a first vehicle, each having a pressure tank that is refuellable with fuel via a refuelling operation, wherein the refuelling operation may occur at any of a plurality of fuel stations, including a first fuel station, with or without a communication link between the first vehicle and the first fuel station, the device comprising:
a control unit configured to:
determine that consecutive refuelling operations of the first vehicle at corresponding different fuel stations of the plurality of fuel stations have taken place without the communication link;
determine that consecutive refuelling operations at the first fuel station for corresponding different vehicles of the plurality of vehicles have taken place without the communication link;
in response to determining that consecutive refuelling operations of the first vehicle at corresponding different fuel stations of the plurality of fuel stations have taken place without the communication link, cause a communication module of the first vehicle to be checked for establishment of the communication link; and
in response to determining that consecutive refuelling operations at the first fuel station for corresponding different vehicles of the plurality of vehicles have taken place without the communication link, cause a communication module of the first fuel station to be checked for establishment of the communication link.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The device according to claim 1,
wherein the device forms part of the first vehicle, and
wherein the device is configured to receive refuelling operation data relating to whether the refuelling operation has taken place with or without a communication link between the first vehicle and the first fuel station from the first fuel station or from a central unit for a network of the plurality of fuel stations.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is further configured to:
determine an identifier of the first vehicle, position data relating to a position of the first fuel station and/or a time stamp relating to a point in time of the refuelling operation; and
transmit the identifier, the position data and/or the time stamp to the first fuel station or the central unit in order to obtain the refuelling operation data.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The device according to claim 1,
wherein the first fuel station comprises one or more fuel station sensors which are configured to collect sensor data relating to the fuel which is provided in the refuelling operation;
wherein the first vehicle comprises one or more vehicle sensors which are configured to collect sensor data relating to a filling level and/or a filling pressure of the pressure tank; and
wherein the device is configured to check and/or calibrate the one or more vehicle sensors on the basis of the sensor data from the one or more fuel station sensors.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The device according to claim 1, wherein the device is configured to:
determine pressure data relating to a filling pressure of the pressure tank following the refuelling operation;
determine temperature data related to a temperature of the fuel in the pressure tank; and
determine on the basis of the pressure data and on the basis of the temperature data whether a refuelling operation has taken place with or without a communication link between the first vehicle and the first fuel station.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The device according to claim 1,
wherein the communication link between the first vehicle and the first fuel station allows communication in accordance with SAE J2601 and/or SAE J2799, and/or
wherein the fuel comprises H2.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The device according to claim 1, wherein the communication link between the first vehicle and the first fuel station comprises an infrared communication link.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is further configured to:
determine zero, one or more indicators relating to premature termination of the refuelling operation; and
on the basis of the zero, one or more indicators, determine whether a refuelling operation has taken place with or without a communication link between the first vehicle and the first fuel station.

### Claim 9

A refuelling assistance method useable within a system comprising: a plurality of vehicles, including a first vehicle, each having a pressure tank that is refuellable with fuel via a refuelling operation, wherein the refuelling operation may occur at any of a plurality of fuel stations, including a first fuel station, with or without a communication link between the first vehicle and the first fuel station, the method comprising:
determining one of the following scenarios:
(a) that consecutive refuelling operations of the first vehicle at corresponding different fuel stations of the plurality of fuel stations have taken place without the communication link, and
(b) that consecutive refuelling operations at the first fuel station for corresponding different vehicles of the plurality of vehicles have taken place without the communication link;
in response to determining scenario (a), cause a communication module of the first vehicle to be checked for establishment of the communication link; and
in response to determining scenario (b), cause a communication module of the first fuel station to be checked for establishment of the communication link.